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August 14, 2006

Wakefield Eyes Return; Nixon Takes BP

Tim Wakefield has Monday, August 21 -- the fifth game of the five-game series against the Yankees -- as a possible return date:

Is it realistic? I don't know. ... I'm trying my darnedest to get back. ... Someone said this and it's true: I feel like I'm in a traffic jam. You feel like you're just slowly inching along. It's a little frustrating. I feel like I should be better than I am and I'm not.

Francona says Wakefield would not need a rehab start.

Trot Nixon swung in the batting cage on Saturday. Tito: "I bet by the time we go on the road [August 22], I bet he'll be at least close to playing ... maybe not for us. I bet that's the timetable we're at least thinking about having him play. That's probably pretty close."

The Daily News had a story about Jeremy and Josh Papelbon. ... Industry sources say Orioles reliever LaTroy Hawkins has cleared waivers. Before the trade deadline, the Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox expressed an interest.

Allowing 18 runs in 3 games to O's says we need both Wake and Foulkie back healthy and effective. Unless the latter is truly done, in which case the ez-boys have to step up. I actually believe that an inning at a time, they can. Hansen's rare flashes of brilliance of are now extinct. And yes, l-girl, I'm Canadian, born and bred. I think a rogue Red Sox gene invaded at an early age and fed off all the native hockey genes. I'm at peace with the outcome.

Re Trot: clearly, his days in Boston are numbered. There isn't a team extant that wouldn't play Wily Mo over Trot.

I'll miss him, though...one of the dyed in the sox stalwarts who in an earlier time would have played his whole career here and never complained when he became a two day a week sub. He's never been quite the star he was cracked up to be when the Sox signed him. As a home-grown outfielder he rates somewhere above Rick Miller and somewhere below Reggie Smith, and not within a mile of Dwight Evans.

I just hope to God that Terry doesn't let him put Wily Mo back on the bench, but I'm a-feared...

Trot: in addition to the warm fuzzies for him, it's worth pointing out that he was hitting over .330 earlier this year. Carried us to 2-3 wins in a row in what, late June or so? All you hear about is his lack of HRs.

And after slugging .508, .418 and .554 in the first three months of the season, Nixon slugged .227 in July. I assume he was hurt and kept playing.

Yet he remains half a hitter. Against LHP this year: .213/.355/.333. Those numbers mirror what he did from 2003-2005 against LHP: .214/.305/.327 (much better OBP this year, though).

Throw in his questionable fielding and baserunning decisions, and we can do a whole lot better in right field.

I admit that it will be hard to replace his DCORP (Dirty Cap Over Replacement Player). That's off the charts.

When he returns, I'd bat Trot #2 against RHP unless they have some reverse splits -- and never play him against lefties. Give WMP the other games and some additional time when Manny (or God) needs a day off.

That's a good stat on why I won't miss Trot. I think he's over-rated - more loved for his perceived "grittiness" than his actual value in the game. Varitek, too. GWGs* who get a pass no matter what they do.

I respect what they've done for the Sox in the past, but I think we can do better in both positions.

Why does this always get so biblical? BSM earlier stated he "thanked god every day for the trade." And now JM with hoping to god WMP doesn't go to the bench. Do you really see it as that one-sided?

Even if I was totally pro-WMP, I'd still say, "I know the numbers totally don't show it, but, I'd go out on an limb and start him in right field in a pennant race..."

You act like a person is stupid for wanting to get the regular right fielder back and play him.

WMP's not doing much better against lefties than Trot is. He's had three good games in August out of 13.

Trot's grittiness isn't perceived, it's real. I love black people and think white male Americans are responsible for all the evils in this world, but WMP is not a better right fielder than Trot Nixon, nor has he proven in any capacity that he'll be as good a hitter. He just hits the ball really, really far when he does hit it.